Chapter Twelve
Pulling up to the gate behind the shop, I smile at the man there.
“Hello, you must be Jane,” he says.
I nod. I haven’t met him yet.
“I am,” I tell him.
“I’m one of the prospects. Mac said to tell you to park up front. He will meet you in a minute, so you don’t have to walk in by yourself.”
“Thanks.”
I pull through the gate to the only spot left up front next to the steps.
Getting out, I look around before helping the kids out. When I turn back to the clubhouse, relief fills me.
Standing there is Mac, looking intimidating as hell. I know what is hiding under all that facade, though. He’s a kind man at heart.
It’s weird how different he is from Evan. Evan looks like the perfect man—smooth and tailored from head to toe. He’s the type of man you would want your daughter to end up with. Inside, he is a black hole of pain and torture, though.
Mac is the opposite. Looking at him, you would think he is a criminal. There is no way he would be a good choice for your daughter. He would ruin her.
Yet he is the one who is slowly helping me pick up the shattered pieces of my life. He is sitting at my side, handing me piece by piece as we slowly rebuild my life.
I can’t believe that this is my life now. I’m not mad about it, though. I have never felt safer than I do now.
“Come on. Everyone wants to meet you. Sloane and Kelly have been asking about you too.”
I take Mac’s outstretched hand as he helps me up the steps, Emily and Tanner on either side of us. I smile when I see Emily slip her hand into Mac’s. Tanner looks stoic as ever, but I can tell he is a little nervous.
When we step inside, it is different than I expected. There really aren’t a lot of people. Mac doesn’t stop in that first room. Instead, he pulls me through the building, pointing out the restroom before stepping out back.
This isn’t what I expected.
In the middle of the open yard is a large bounce house with several kids playing on it. On one side are tables set up with food, while the other looks to be where the men are taking turns grilling.
“Mom, can I go play?” Emily asks, looking up at me.
“Of course. Be good,” I tell her.
She takes off running. Tanner looks up at me before nodding. He takes off after her. He will keep an eye on her.
“What is all of this?”
“This is Kelly and Sloane. Before them, we would have had some grilled meats and beer, but since they came on board, things have changed,” he tells me.
“Whose kids are those? The guys I’ve met don’t seem like family men. Well, maybe Gunner, but I know they don’t have kids,” I tell him.
“None of the brothers have kids. These are family friends. Neighbors. We aren’t all about the club all the time. We like to help the community too. These are people who support us.”
I smile to myself. I had read about their charitable contributions. After a hurricane a couple of years ago, they drove down to Panama City and helped rebuild for months. They donated supplies and such to displaced families.
“I like that. Emily is going to have a blast.”
He hums. “What about Tanner?”
“I don’t know. I want to say he will too, but he isn’t the joyful kid he once was. I don’t know what to do about it, though. Not when I know why.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Don’t stress about it today. I did want to ask if he could help me after school. He wants to learn how to fix cars. I will keep him safe.”
I think it over. I like that he is going to Mac, that he is starting to warm up to a male figure in his life.
“I don’t mind. I know you won’t let anything happen to him.”
Before he can say anything back, Kelly and Sloane come up behind us.
“No way, Mac. She is ours today. You can have her later. Come on, Jane. We want to fill you in on all the juicy gossip,” Kelly says.
“Gossip? Kelly, you hate gossip.” Sloane huffs.
I glance back, giving Mac a small smile. He returns it before heading toward the grill.
“I do hate gossip, but I want to hear all about you and Mac. Boy has it bad for you,” Kelly tells me, handing me a cola.
“Thank you,” I tell her. “Mac and I are friends. I’ll be honest. I’m not sure I’m ready for anything more. How can I be?”
“Oh, honey, when Smoke showed up, he claimed me within minutes of meeting me. I didn’t think I could fall for him so fast, but love has its own timeline.
Don’t let what you think you should do or feel stop you from feeling what you actually feel.
Did that make sense? That sounded a little confusing,” she mutters.
“You are always confusing,” Sloane jokes. “Kidding. She’s right, though.”
“How can I trust my feelings, though? I once fell in love with a man who hurt me. Like bad,” I tell them.
They both frown. “You can’t blame yourself for being fooled by a man who knew how to charm you. I’m guessing you were young too.” When I nod, she continues. “We all see what we want to see when we are young. Your eyes will be open now. Besides, Mac isn’t whatever you left. He is a good man.”
“I thought my husband was too. What if Mac ends up like him?” I ask, voicing my real fear.
“Then Smoke will put a bullet in his head,” Kelly says without hesitation.
I choke. “Excuse me?”
“These men don’t allow men to hurt women or children. So not only would Smoke kill him, but Gunner would be there to clean up the mess. All the brothers live by this code. So trust me when I say Mac will not harm any of you,” Sloane adds.
I sigh. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t need to make any decisions now. Take your time and get to know him. If it happens, then it happens. If not, it doesn’t matter. You are family either way. The club is sworn to protect you. Nothing will change that,” Kelly says.
“Besides, you are in our little group now too, so added protection.” Sloane winks at me.
I laugh, letting some of the weight lift off me.
“Thank you for inviting me,” I tell them.
“Anytime. Now let Kelly tell you about the time a club girl tried to threaten her,” Sloane says.
That’s how I spend the next couple of hours, listening to the girls tell me stories about themselves and the club.
I don’t miss Mac’s eyes on me every time I look for him.
Maybe they are right. Maybe it’s okay to give him a chance.
I have been watching her all afternoon. She has been talking with the girls, but each has migrated toward their men as the sun sinks lower. Now Jane is sitting by the fire by herself, looking uncomfortable as people talk around her.
It’s my turn to spend time with her.
Slipping away from the small group of brothers I had been hanging with, I make my way over to her. I take the empty seat to her left, smiling when I see her relax.
“What are you doing all by yourself? A pretty girl should always have someone’s attention.”
She laughs. “I’m watching the kids.”
She nods to the bounce house that Emily and Tanner have been in all day.
“They are going to be exhausted,” I tell her.
“That’s the plan. They should sleep well.”
I smile. “Are you having fun?”
“I am. Kelly and Sloane are great. I was nervous to come here, but I’m glad I did.”
“I am too.” I reach out and grab her hand. “Is this okay?”
She looks at me, uncertainty in her eyes, but she nods.
I keep my hand in hers as we both look back to the kids.
“I always thought Florida was hot all the time. I’m surprised it’s cool enough for a fire,” she tells me.
“I like Pensacola for that reason. We don’t get all four seasons, but we get three of them. Well, unless you count January of 2025. Historic snowfall. It was wild.”
She giggles, and I love it.
“I bet no one knew how to drive.”
“Not only that, but we had to borrow salt trucks from Atlanta. I’m glad I grew up in Boston, but still, going out was insane,” I tell her.
“I didn’t realize you were from Boston. Is that the accent I hear?”
I nod. “Yeah. We have been down here for a few years, but I still can’t get rid of it.”
“Don’t. I like it. It’s cute,” she tells me.
That has me feeling like a million bucks. One little compliment has me ready to commit myself to this woman for life.
I push the thoughts away as Emily and Tanner run up to us. Emily doesn’t hesitate, climbing into my lap. Her head rests on my shoulder as I wrap both arms around her.
“Having fun, baby girl?” I ask.
“Yes. I need a break, though,” she tells me, nuzzling closer.
I laugh, looking over at Jane. She has an odd look on her face, like she is unsure what to think of this development.
“It’s probably time to get them home,” I tell her.
She laughs and nods.
“What?”
“She’s already asleep,” Jane tells me.
“Mom, can I get another ice cream?” Tanner asks.
“Sure, but to go. We are going home now.”
He nods, running off to the kitchen.
“I’ll take her to the car. Meet you there?” I ask her.
She nods.
I take my time getting Emily all buckled into the car seat before I turn and wait for Jane. She comes out minutes later with a smiling Tanner next to her. It feels good to see the boy showing an emotion other than fear.
He climbs in, buckling himself in as Jane steps into my arms, hugging me freely.
“Thank you for today. It was fun.”
“It sounds like you are saying goodbye. I’m going to follow you home,” I tell her.
“What?” She pulls back. “Why?”
I brush a piece of hair away from her face.
“I want to make sure you are safe. Besides, with you gone, I won’t have any fun.”
She sucks in a breath as she stares up at me. Then she nods.
“Okay.”
She drives carefully back to her house. Instead of pulling into my driveway, I pull behind her car.
I smile when I see that both kids are knocked out.
“Let me grab Tanner first. I’ll come back for Emily,” I tell her.
“No, I can grab Emily if you are sure you have him.”
I nod, picking Tanner up. He turns into me, trusting me to hold his weight in his sleep.
I wait as Jane unlocks the door. As we head down the hall, she points toward Tanner’s room. I lay him down, tucking him in after I take off his shoes.
“Good night, bud.”
I press a soft kiss to his forehead before I go down the hall. I find Jane tucking Emily in, doing the same as I did.
When she steps out, she leads me to the living room.
“Thank you for following us. If you aren’t ready to go home, you could hang out for a bit,” she tells me.
Then she yawns.
As much as I want to stay with her, she needs her rest too. Reaching out, I cup her cheek.
“Get some rest. I’ll be right next door,” I tell her.
She frowns, but I pull her into my arms for a hug before she can get too sad.
“I guess I am pretty tired,” she says.
“The sun will do that to you. Especially when it’s not super warm because you don’t realize how much you are getting.”
“That makes sense.”
She pulls back, not moving from my arms. She looks up at me, a smile on her face. Then she leans up, pressing a kiss to my cheek, close to my lips. My eyes fall closed as my breath comes a bit faster.
“Mac,” she whispers.
My hands squeeze her tighter. “Jane.”
Then her soft lips are on mine. It’s not a hard kiss. I don’t deepen it.
It’s simply a brush of her lips against mine, yet it feels like the best, most intimate kiss I have ever had in my life.
“Good night,” she whispers.
Opening my eyes, I stare down at her.
“Good night, a mhuirnín.”
It slips out. A familiar Irish term my father used to call my mother. My darling.
She doesn’t question it as I step back and let myself out. I wait until I hear the lock slide closed before I look up at the sky and wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.
I’m slowly falling not only for Jane, but for those kids too. They own my heart and don’t even know it.